Since iOS 11, iPhones have saved photos in HEIC format by default (High Efficiency Image Container). HEIC produces smaller file sizes than JPEG at similar quality — great for iPhone storage, but not so great when you try to share photos with someone on Windows, upload to a website that doesn't support HEIC, or open images in an older app.
The solution is to convert HEIC to JPEG. Here is how to do it on a Mac — with and without third-party software, and without uploading your photos anywhere.
What Is HEIC and Why Does It Cause Problems?
HEIC is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard. iPhones shoot in HEIC by default because it saves about 50% more storage than JPEG at the same visual quality.
The problem: HEIC is not universally supported. Windows 10 requires a paid codec extension to open HEIC files natively. Many websites, web upload tools, and older apps still do not accept HEIC. If you send HEIC photos to someone on Windows, they may not be able to open them at all.
Option 1: Change Your iPhone to Shoot JPEG Instead
If you want to avoid the problem entirely, change your iPhone's camera settings:
- Go to Settings → Camera → Formats
- Choose Most Compatible instead of High Efficiency
This makes your iPhone shoot JPEG instead of HEIC. You lose some storage efficiency but gain universal compatibility. This doesn't convert existing HEIC photos — only future ones.
Option 2: Use AirDrop or iCloud to Auto-Convert
When you AirDrop a photo from your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC, iOS can automatically convert HEIC to JPEG during transfer. Similarly, iCloud Photos can be set to download compatible versions.
On iPhone: Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic
This is convenient but only affects files transferred going forward, and requires iCloud or AirDrop — not useful if you already have a folder of HEIC files on your Mac.
Option 3: Convert HEIC in macOS Preview (Single or Small Batches)
Preview can convert HEIC files to JPEG without any extra software:
- Open the HEIC file (or multiple HEIC files) in Preview.
- Select all images in the sidebar (Command + A).
- Go to File → Export…
- From the Format dropdown, choose JPEG.
- Adjust quality if desired, then click Save.
For a true batch export of many files:
- Open all HEIC files in Preview (select them in Finder, right-click → Open With → Preview).
- In Preview, choose File → Export Selected Images…
- Choose a destination folder and set the format to JPEG.
Preview's batch export works well for modest quantities. For large batches — hundreds of photos — it can be slow and the interface is not designed for high-volume work.
Option 4: Batch Convert HEIC to JPEG with ImageZero
ImageZero converts HEIC to JPEG (and PNG or WebP) in bulk, fully offline on your Mac:
- Open ImageZero.
- Drag in your HEIC files.
- Enable the Convert toggle and choose JPG as the output format.
- Set JPG quality (default 85% is a good balance of quality and file size).
- Optionally enable Resize if you also want to reduce dimensions.
- Click Export.
All converted JPEG files are saved to your output folder. Your original HEIC files are not modified.
Free tier: process up to 10 images per session. A Pro license removes all limits.
What Quality Setting Should I Use for JPEG Conversion?
- 95%+ — near-lossless, large file sizes. Use for archiving or printing.
- 85% — the standard default. Excellent visual quality, significantly smaller than HEIC.
- 70–80% — good quality, smaller files. Suitable for web use and email.
- Below 60% — noticeable compression artifacts. Only for thumbnails.
Does Converting HEIC to JPEG Remove Metadata?
No — standard JPEG conversion preserves the metadata embedded in the original HEIC file, including date, location, camera settings, and copyright. If you want to remove this metadata before sharing, run the JPEG files through MetaZero after conversion. Read more: what GPS coordinates are stored in your iPhone photos.
Does HEIC to JPEG Conversion Lose Quality?
HEIC and JPEG are both lossy formats. Converting HEIC to JPEG at high quality (85–95%) is almost indistinguishable from the original to the human eye. Some quality is technically lost in the conversion, but for everyday photos it is not noticeable.
FAQ
Can I convert HEIC to PNG instead of JPEG? Yes. ImageZero supports PNG output as well. PNG is lossless, so it is larger than JPEG but has no compression artifacts — useful for graphics, screenshots, and images with text.
Does converting HEIC to JPEG reduce quality compared to shooting JPEG directly? Slightly. The iPhone's HEIC is already compressed, and converting to JPEG compresses again. At 85% quality the difference is imperceptible for most photos.
Can I open HEIC files on Windows without converting? Yes, with the Microsoft HEVC Video Extensions (a paid add-on from the Microsoft Store). This is inconvenient — converting to JPEG before sharing is simpler.
How do I convert a single HEIC file quickly? Right-click the file in Finder → Quick Actions → Convert Image → JPEG. This uses macOS's built-in converter. For batches, use ImageZero.
Summary
The simplest way to convert HEIC to JPEG on Mac for a few files is macOS's right-click Quick Action. For large batches, ImageZero handles hundreds of photos at once, fully offline, without uploading your photos anywhere.
Also read: How to batch resize images on Mac and browse the Images category for more guides.